Magsaysay, Estrada grateful for church’s free publicity

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial candidates Mitos Magsaysay and JV Ejercito Estrada are grateful for the free publicity given them by Catholic church leaders in Bacolod through the controversial “Team Buhay” posters.

A Bacolod diocese put up tarpaulins bearing the names of senatorial candidates who voted for the reproductive health (RH) law under “Team Patay” and those who voted against it under Team Buhay.

“It was an honor to be included (in Team Buhay). I have been very consistent in my position against the RH law,” Magsaysay said.

Magsaysay said any religious group has the right to endorse candidates, adding that the Catholic vote could be a force to reckon with during the elections.

“If there is no such thing as a ‘Catholic vote,’ why are they reacting?” she asked.

Magsaysay added that there is no need for an RH law since there is already a national budget for maternal care.

Estrada said the Bacolod diocese’s initiative was “unexpected” and “unprecedented.”

“Even if we didn’t ask for it, I am still thankful,” Estrada told reporters in Dagupan City.

He said the endorsement is a big help, especially for opposition candidates who, compared to their rivals in the administration party, have meager campaign resources.

Team PNoy senatorial bet Alan Peter Cayetano said while he respects the position of the Bacolod diocese, a candidate should not be judged for his stand on a single issue.

Cayetano said his stand on the RH law has not affected his campaign.

Sen. Francis Escudero, meanwhile, urged Catholic Church leaders not to use their position to influence voters.

“I hope they (priests) will not use the pulpit to campaign for or against a certain candidate,” Escudero said.

“If you voted yes and you are not corrupt, would you tell people not to vote for that candidate? I don’t think it’s right,” he added.

SC to decide whether to remove tarpaulins

The Supreme Court (SC) has set the oral arguments on the petition of the Bacolod diocese to stop the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from removing the controversial posters on March 19.

“The enumeration of issues for the oral arguments is without prejudice to other issues that may be raised by the parties in their pleading or by any member of the court during the oral arguments,” the SC said in an advisory signed by clerk of court Enriqueta Vidal and released last Tuesday.

The SC issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on March 5 stopping the Comelec from removing the tarpaulins.

The Comelec, through the Bacolod election registrar, had issued a notice to take down the billboard, saying it measures six feet by 10 feet in violation of Comelec Resolution 9615, which states campaign posters should not exceed two by three feet.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, however, maintained they have not violated any election law, saying the poster was not a campaign material but a statement on those who voted for or against the RH Law.

Navarra said the poster is covered by the broader constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression.

He said the Comelec has no jurisdiction over the Church, adding that the tarpaulin was put up on church premises.

‘Divided church’

The controversial tarpaulins reportedly divided leaders in the diocese of Bacolod.

Msgr. Victorino Rivas, rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help or the Redemptorist Church in Bacolod, said during a TV interview that the tarpaulin is “unchristian” and maligns people, particularly the candidates listed under Team Patay.

Rivas said the Redemptorist Church decided to display only red flags to express their opposition to the RH law.

Other Catholic churches in Bacolod posted smaller tarpaulins with the words “Pro-Life Forever, Team Patay Never” under a yellow background but without the names of the candidates who voted for it.

But Msgr. Louie Galbines, vicar general of the Diocese of Bacolod, said more tarpaulins would be put up in 60 other churches in Bacolod.

Rivas, meanwhile, said the circulation of text messages about the so-called “Team Tatay” referring to priests who allegedly fathered children despite their vow of celibacy, only aims to destroy the Catholic church.

Navarra said these attacks are “very unchristian,” and dismissed it as part of a smear campaign against the Bacolod diocese opposing the RH Law.

Virtually admitting the charge that the priests have sired children, Navarra said priests in the Bacolod diocese, who had past indiscretions, have repented and have since reformed their ways.

Push for those lagging behind in surveys

Team PNoy said they would push for the candidacy of their senatorial bets who have not been faring well in surveys.

Recent surveys showed that Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, former Akbayan party-list representative Risa Hontiveros, former senators Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Ma. Ana Consuelo Madrigal barely made it to the top 12.

Angara said taping for a new set of television commercials featuring the President with Team PNoy candidates has started.

Angara said that he would also be coming out with his new political advertisements featuring actor Coco Martin.

He said their partymates who are leading in surveys, such as Sen. Loren Legarda, have also been making a pitch for their weaker colleagues.

Meanwhile, UNA’s Magsaysay has topped the mock elections conducted by the Local Government Development Foundation and its partner schools in Manila’s University Belt. She got 204 votes among 300 students.

Magsaysay said she hopes to have more opportunities to talk with the student population, noting that she wanted to push reforms in the education sector, including the grant of more scholarships and skills training.  – With Eva Visperas, Edu Punay, Marvin Sy, Jose Rodel Clapano, Danny Dangcalan